While Some Students Skip College, Trade Schools Are Growing

Almost every area of higher education in the United States has fewer students registering for classes. But many trade programs are growing.

Trade programs teach students skills for specific jobs, like electricians or car repair. For many students, skilled trades offer a clearer path to a job.

The National Student Clearing House says from spring 2021 to 2022, some trade programs grew as much as 19.3 percent. Meanwhile, the overall number of students declined by 7.8 percent at public two-year colleges and about 3.4 percent at public four-year colleges.

That is the case in the American state of Tennessee.

Despite having free tuition since 2015, the overall number of students going to the state's community colleges declined during the pandemic. But at the Tennessee College of Applied¹ Technology (TCAT) many trade programs have continued to grow.

TCAT is a network of 24 colleges that offers training for 70 different jobs. At TCAT Nashville, several programs have waiting lists. The college has added night classes to meet demand, said Nathan Garrett, president of the college.

TCAT centers on training students for jobs that are in demand in the area. Garrett said the pandemic made certain jobs more desirable.

"When we look at ‘essential workers,' a lot of those trades never saw a slowdown," he said. "They still hired. They still have the need."

Cheven Jones is attending an automotive trade school at the TCAT in Nashville. The 26-year-old said when he was in high school he did not know what he wanted to do.

He said that his "biggest fear was to go to college, put in all that time and effort and then not use my degree."

Robert Nivyayo said he did not like high school. But he knew what he wanted to do earlier in life. He spent most of his free time watching videos about fixing up cars before he was old enough to drive.

Training in car repair made sense for him, he said, because he could earn a working document while doing what he enjoyed.

Now 19, Nivyayo looks forward to the money he will earn when he gets a job in an auto² shop. He can expect to make about $40,000 to $60,000 a year, his instructor³ said.

Laura Monks⁴ is the president of TCAT Shelbyville. She said one of the reasons students like TCAT is the school's "co-op" program. It gives students who are close to finishing their studies a chance to get real work experience toward their degree.

Brayden Johnson, 20, is studying industrial maintenance automation. As part of the "co-op" program, he works as an electrical maintenance technician in a local factory that makes containers for toothpaste. Johnson earns $26 an hour and hopes to stay in the job after he finishes at TCAT this spring.

Garrett of Nashville said to get real work experience in TCAT's "co-op" program is important. He noted⁵ that the employer reports back to the student's instructor, so they know where the student is doing well and where they are struggling. That way, they can work on those weaknesses in class.

For Cheven Jones, his plan is to fix up his car by the time he finishes the trade program and have fun while doing it.

"It's school, and I take it seriously. But you know, you come here, and it just feels more like you're at a shop hanging out with your homies all day," Jones said. "It's a good feeling."

Words in This Story

tuition — n. money that is paid to a school for the right to study there

essential — adj. extremely important and necessary

degree — n. a unit for measuring temperature

homie — n. (slang) a friend

1 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

2 auto   

n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车

参考例句：

• Don't park your auto here.别把你的汽车停在这儿。
• The auto industry has brought many people to Detroit.汽车工业把许多人吸引到了底特律。

3 instructor   

n.指导者，教员，教练

参考例句：

• The college jumped him from instructor to full professor.大学突然把他从讲师提升为正教授。
• The skiing instructor was a tall,sunburnt man.滑雪教练是一个高高个子晒得黑黑的男子。

4 monks   

n.修道士，僧侣( monk的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The monks lived a very ascetic life. 僧侣过着很清苦的生活。
• He had been trained rigorously by the monks. 他接受过修道士的严格训练。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。